August Kretschmer and the Stoneware Decorators of Western New York

In the 19th century, New York state was home to many of the US’s most productive potteries, and the industry supported many local trades, playing a vital role in the regional economy. We have some records about the people who made these utilitarian stoneware products, but less is known about those highly skilled craftsmen who decorated them, rendering animals, scenes of regional life and landscapes, and even sculpting three-dimensional flowers into the designs of these vessels. 

After three years, Dr. John Sladek returns to Bennington Museum to deliver a new presentation, drawing on decades of collecting and researching  pottery in Rochester, Lyons and other cities in central New York. These  river towns, many with access to the Erie Canal, facilitated the transport of clay, finished goods, as well as the artisans themselves, and this thriving trade helped the towns become cities and develop into regional transport centers.

Tickets are $7 for Bennington Museum Members, $10 for Not-Yet-Members and are available for purchase in advance or at the door.

When Dr. John Sladek (Professor Emeritus, Neurology, University of Colorado) moved to the Rochester area in 1973, he began collecting the striking stoneware that was so abundant at local flea markets and farm auctions. His observations of the design elements and signatures of the decorators led to research that identified artisans who traveled from pottery to pottery as valued artists. His personal collection of Rochester and Lyons stoneware pieces numbers well over 300 individual items and growing.